A Perth drug dealer described by police as “head of a local crime group” has been jailed for almost five years after he was spotted selling heroin from a stash near a school.
Christopher Crowder hid wraps of the class A drug in a plastic tub in bushes at Bute Drive, North Muirton the road on which Perth Grammar and the St John’s campus stand.
He was snared by police surveillance soon after leaving prison early after conviction for a similar offence.
Gang member Murray Christie (31), of Bute Drive, was also caught with the drug and jailed on Wednesday.
Drugs officers celebrated the downfall of a pair who, they said, had been “dealing heroin to vulnerable people in Perth as part of their efforts to gain power and profit, while spreading misery throughout the community.”
The court previously heard how police learned Crowder (50), May Place, Perth, was involved in the drugs trade again, despite three previous convictions and his recent release.
They set up Operation Sparrow to monitor him and, on December 20, spotted him with a man on a footpath beside the Tay. Crowder crouched in bushes and retrieved something which he handed to his companion.
When police caught up with the man not named in the court case he said he had bought heroin for £80 in the pre-arranged meeting.
Officers returned to the meeting place and found a tub hidden under chicken wire containing three packages of heroin, each around 3.5 grams and worth a total of £1349.
The stake-out continued and next day Christie was caught in a field near the stash. Asked if he had any drugs, he admitted he had heroin. Weighing 25.98 grams, it was worth up to £1000 “as seen” but could be worth £2598 if split up.Own addiction problemsCrowder and Christie admitted being concerned in the supply of heroin at the wooded area to the rear of Bute Drive on December 20 and 21.
Crowder’s agent, Ronnie Renucci, said his client had on leaving jail set up a business as a tree surgeon but it had failed and he was having family difficulties. He fell in with former drugs trade acquaintances and agreed to sell heroin for them.
Christie’s solicitor, Mark Alder, said his client had long-standing addiction problems and was going to sell his batch of heroin to feed his own habit.
Christie was jailed for two and a half years and Crowder, due to his longer criminal record, for 58 months when they appeared for sentence.
Detectove Inspector Mike Pirie, in charge of Tayside Police’s drugs and surveillance branch, said properties across Perth were searched as part of Operation Sparrow and drugs and other illicit paraphernalia recovered.
He said, “Sparrow was set up to address the serious organised criminal activities of Crowder and his criminal group and I am delighted the local community has been made safer with custodial sentences today. Crowder is now behind bars where he belongs.
“Dealers like him have no regard for the harm they inflict on communities by dealing heroin at the expense of our most vulnerable people.”
He added, “It’s been said many times that drug dealing is a vile trade that has catastrophic effects on people, families and communities I repeat it today.
“Heroin destroys the lives of those who abuse the drug and also those who are victims of drug-related crime.”
Mr Pirie said, “I want to reassure local communities that we will continue to work towards making your area safer, stronger and healthier places for people to live and work in.
“If anyone has information about drug dealing or suspected dealing in their community I urge them to get in touch with us. Only by working together can we reduce supply and help to reduce demand and reduce harm.”